Improvement in knitting-machines



NJETERS, FHOTO-UTHOGRAPHEH. WASHINGTON. D. C.

VARNUM G. ARNOLD, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN KNlTTlNG-MACHINES.

Specifica-tion forming part of Letters Patent No. 106,025, dated August2, 1870.

To all Iwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VARNUM G. ARNOLD, of the city and county ofProvidence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new 'anduseful Improvements in Knitting' Machines. y

My invention relates, iirst, to a novel, neat, and effective inode oflubricating the needles, which is applicable to all kinds ofknittingmachines, and consists in surrounding each needle with ibrousabsorbent charged with lubricating matter; and, secondly, to a novelarrangement of the cam-stops, which is more particularly applicable tothat class of knitting-machines which operate two parallel rows ofneedles; and I do hereby declare the following speciiication, taken inconnection with the drawingfurnished and formingapart of the same, to bea true, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to thedrawing.

Figure 1, Sheet 1, represents in perspective a Lamb knitting-machinewith my improvements attached. Fig. 2 represents the same in top view,with slidin g frame or carriage removed. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, represents thesame as Fig. 2, in cross vertical section. Fig. 4t represents thelubricating apparatus in longitudinal vertical section. Fig. 5represents one of the cam-plates, which has been removed from the underside of the carriage A, with my improvements attached. cam as heretoforeused.

The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

A represents the sliding frame or carriage. B is the body of themachine, having upon each side a needIe-bed.' C and C' are the slideswhich operate the needle-cams. D and D are the bars, upon which Iareplaced the cam-stops E and E. These cam-stops are adjustable thereon intwo different ways. Stops E are provided with vertical spring-spindlesf, which engage with holes g in bar D. Stops E' are provided with aset-screw, which passes through the stop and a slot-in the bar D', andengages with a clamp-nut beneath.

Either of these arrangements will serve an excellent purpose, although Iprefer the sprin gspindle.

When but few needles are required it is desirable that the cams bereversed with as little unnecessary movement of the carriage as pos-Fig. 6 shows the sible. This latter movement is in itself regulated atpleasure by a slotted crank-arm. .Ihe movement of the cams to correspondtherewith is effected by the cam-stops, adjustable longitudinally. Thedistance between the inner faces of the stops should be equal to thedistance traveled by the carriage, less double the extent of the throwof the camslides.

The ends of the bar D are attached to fixed arms i, extending at rightangles thereto, each of which is provided with a suitable slot tocorrespond with the holding-screws of the ori ginal'cam-stops in theends of the machine.

The bar D is provided with slotted fingers, which are attached to thebody of the machine by means of screws on the under side. In this lattercase it is necessary to drill holes in the body of the machineespecially for this purpose, while in the case of bar D no change inthat respect is requisite, and it is therefore far preferable.

H and H' are narrow slots, extending the entire length of theneedle-bed. These slots are common to the Lamb machine and others of asimilar character.

I and I are slides or gibs fitted to grooves cut in the sides of theslots H. They serve to keep the needles in position, and must be removedin order to remove broken needles or insert new ones.

J is a lpiece ot' sponge closely fitted to the slots H. The needles passthrough it at right angles. Other brous absorbents may be substitutedfor sponge, although no other known to me is so well adapted to thepurpose.

K is a base-plate mounted upon springs; It is fitted loosely into theslots H, and is so arranged that a pressure of the sponge between it andthe under side of the gib I is constantly maintained.

L is a reservoir for containing lubricating matter. Oil is fed theretoby means of the duct M, and conveyed therefrom to the sponge J by meansof capillary attraction through the wick N, which extends fromthereservoir through the plate K, thence along the slot beneath the sponge.The pressure of the springs beneath the plate accomplishes a doublepurpose: While preventing the sponge from being sui-charged with oil, italso keeps it in proper and close contact with the needles.

Needles have been lubricated heretofore by the direct application ofoil, and therefore it has always been exceedingly difficult to avoidsoiling the work. Vith my apparatus the upper portion of the needlesneed never be directly oiled, as all that will be required will ascendfrom the sponge along the surface of the needles. Sufcient oil will alsodescend along the needles to lubricate them at their point ot` contactwith the cams.

In building new machines the reservoirs L and slots H should be formedin the body of the machine without joint and provided with the duct M.In attaching the same to machines already in use the reservoir will bemade separately and attached to the body of the machine by screws, carebeing taken to secure oil-tight joints. An extra gib should be used forthe removal of the slides, as it keepsthe sponge in position during theremoval or replacement of the needles.

O is the cam for operating the needles. l) is the lower side of thetriangular needlecam, and is curved, as shown, to avoid contact with theheels of the needle. This feature is not new, and does not constitute aportion of my invention.

I am aware that devices have heretofore been used for limiting` themovement of the carriage and for operating the cams at various points tocorrespond with the number of needles being used. I do not, therefore,broadly claim the application of cam-stops adjustable with relation tothe number of needles employed.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The bars D,constructed substantially as described, and provided with suitable meansof attachment to the body of themachine, in combination with adjustablecam-stops E, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination, with the needlebed of the machine, of slottedchamber H, provided with fibrous absorbent charged-with lubricatingmatter, arranged to bear against the needles, substantially as shown anddescribed.

3. The reservoir L, spring-plate K, conducting-wick N, suitable fibrousabsorbent, and slotted chamber H, arranged to operate substantially asshown and described.

VARNUM G. ARNOLD.

Witnesses:

GEo. M. KENDALL, L. G. CARPENTER.

